FX.co ★ Slovakia Retail Sales Fall Most in Over a Year

In February 2025, Slovakia experienced a 2.6% decrease in retail sales compared to the same month the previous year. This represents the most significant downturn since December 2023 and follows a 0.8% rise in January. The substantial decline was largely due to reduced sales across almost all sectors, notably in cultural and recreational goods, which plummeted by 20.7% compared to a 5.9% decrease in January. Food, beverages, and tobacco saw a drop of 11.6%, following a previous fall of 9.1%, while sales of automotive fuel decreased by 9.8%, compared to a 4.3% decline earlier. Additionally, sales of household equipment fell by 9.5% versus an 8.7% decrease previously, non-store retailing dropped 3% after a 2.3% rise, and trade in stalls and markets decreased by 2.6%, compared to an 8.4% drop earlier. Conversely, sales of other goods in specialized stores showed growth, increasing by 5.3% following a 7.2% rise in January. Month-on-month, retail sales dipped by 0.8%, after a significant 9% decline in the prior period.